Nightfall in Middle-Earth: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(More info.)
(12 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Blind guardian nightfall cover.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Nightfall in Middle-earth cover]]
[[File:Blind guardian nightfall cover.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Nightfall in Middle-earth cover]]
'''Nightfall in Middle-Earth''' is an album by [[Blind Guardian]] that was released in 1998.
'''''Nightfall in Middle-Earth''''' is an album by [[Blind Guardian]] that was released in [[1998]].


The album is a concept album based on the [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] book ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. Many of the tracks from the album are not complete songs, but are merely narratives to further the story.
The album is a concept album based on the [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] book ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. Many of the tracks from the album are not complete songs, but are merely narratives to further the story. Blind Guardian owes many of its lyrics to Tolkien's work, but this album is exclusively dedicated to ''The Silmarillion''. The lyrics range from the quest for the [[Silmarils]] until the dawn of the [[Third Age]].
Every track that tells a piece of the story has a great ambience, and contributes greatly to enhance the listening experience. Blind Guardian owes many of its lyrics to Tolkien's work, but this album is exclusively dedicated to "The Silmarillion", a book of tales from Middle-earth. The lyrics range from the quest for the [[Silmarils]] until the dawn of the Third Age, period in which [[The Lord of the Rings]] occurs.
 
Technically speaking, Blind Guardian is much more "melodic" in this album. Compared to previous works such as "Somewhere Far Beyond", the songs have much more fluency, without losing any of the traditional speed or guitar solos and leads.
"Nightfall in Middle-Earth" was the first album Blind Guardian released in the United States. The result was so positive that Century Media started to release old Blind Guardian hits in the U.S. (records such as "Follow the Blind" and "Battalions of Fear").{{fact}}
"Nightfall in Middle-Earth" was the first album Blind Guardian released in the U.S.. The result was so positive that Century Media started to release old Blind Guardian hits in the U.S. (records such as "Follow the Blind" and "Battalions of Fear").
 
"Nightfall in Middle-Earth" includes a few of the band's best, such as "Mirror Mirror" and "Into the Storm". "Mirror Mirror" is included in the now-released Blind DVD: Imaginations Through The Looking Glass. This DVD was rated by many different music-specialized sites as "a masterpiece".
The track "Mirror Mirror" is included in ''Blind DVD: Imaginations Through The Looking Glass''. This DVD was rated by many different music-specialized sites as "a masterpiece".{{fact}}


== Lineup ==
== Lineup ==
*Vocals: Hansi Kürsch
*Vocals: [[Hansi Kürsch]]
*Lead Guitar: André Olbrich
*Lead Guitar: André Olbrich
*Rythm Guitar: Marcus Siepen
*Rythm Guitar: Marcus Siepen
Line 26: Line 26:
#Lammoth ''0:28''
#Lammoth ''0:28''
#[[Nightfall]] ''5:34''
#[[Nightfall]] ''5:34''
#[[The Minstrel]] ''0:32''
#The Minstrel ''0:32''
#[[The Curse of Fëanor]] ''5:41''
#[[The Curse of Fëanor]] ''5:41''
#[[Captured]] ''0:26''
#Captured ''0:26''
#[[Blood Tears]] ''5:23''
#Blood Tears ''5:23''
#[[Mirror Mirror]] ''5:07''
#Mirror Mirror ''5:07''
#[[Face the Truth]] ''0:24''
#Face the Truth ''0:24''
#[[Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)]] ''6:51''
#[[Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)]] ''6:51''
#[[Battle of Sudden Flame (song)]] ''0:44''
#Battle of Sudden Flame ''0:44''
#[[Time Stands Still (at the Iron Hill)]] ''4:53''
#Time Stands Still (at the Iron Hill) ''4:53''
#[[The Dark Elf]] ''0:23''
#The Dark Elf ''0:23''
#[[Thorn]] ''6:18''
#Thorn ''6:18''
#[[The Eldar]] ''3:39''
#[[The Eldar]] ''3:39''
#[[Nom the Wise]] ''0:33''
#Nom the Wise ''0:33''
#[[When Sorrow Sang]] ''4:25''
#When Sorrow Sang ''4:25''
#[[Out on the Water]] ''0:44''
#Out on the Water ''0:44''
#[[The Steadfast (song)]] ''0:21''
#The Steadfast''0:21''
#[[A Dark Passage]] ''6:01''
#A Dark Passage ''6:01''
#[[Final Chapter (Thus Ends...)]] ''0:48''
#Final Chapter (Thus Ends...) ''0:48''
*Bonus Tracks
*Bonus Tracks
#Nightfall (Orchestral Version)
#Nightfall (Orchestral Version)
Line 49: Line 49:


==Thematic references==
==Thematic references==
    #In "War of Wrath", Sauron advises his master Morgoth to flee the triumphant Valar in the War of Wrath. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
#In "War of Wrath", [[Sauron]] advises his master [[Morgoth]] to flee the triumphant [[Valar]] in the [[War of Wrath]]. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
    #In "Into the Storm", Morgoth and Ungoliant, fleeing from Valinor after having destroyed the Two Trees, struggle for the possession of the Silmarils.
#In "Into the Storm", Morgoth and [[Ungoliant]], fleeing from [[Valinor]] after having destroyed the [[Two Trees]], struggle for the possession of the [[Silmarils]].
    #"Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth with which he fights off Ungoliant.
#"Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth after being attacked by Ungoliant in [[Lammoth]].
    #In "Nightfall", Fëanor and his seven sons mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth, including the slaying of Finwë, Fëanor's father, and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar's disapproval.
#In "Nightfall", [[Fëanor]] and his [[Sons of Fëanor|Seven Sons]] mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth, including the slaying of [[Finwë]], Fëanor's father, and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar's disapproval.
    #"The Minstrel" is most likely about Maglor, son of Fëanor, who composed the song "The Fall of the Noldor" based on the Kinslaying.
#"The Minstrel" is most likely about [[Maglor]], son of Fëanor, who composed the song "[[Noldolantë]]".
    #In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the Kinslaying, in pursuit of Morgoth.
#In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the [[First Kinslaying|Kinslaying]], in pursuit of Morgoth.
    #In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive Maedhros, Fëanor's son, and chains him to the Thangorodrim mountains.
#In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive [[Maedhros]], Fëanor's son, and chains him to the [[Thangorodrim]] mountains.
    #In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by Fingon.
#In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by [[Fingon]].
    #"Mirror Mirror" recounts how Turgon, in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of Gondolin, aided by Ulmo ("The Lord of Water").
#"Mirror Mirror" recounts how [[Turgon]], in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of [[Gondolin]], aided by [[Ulmo]] ("The Lord of Water").
    #In "Face the Truth", Fingolfin reflects about the destiny of the Noldor.
#In "Face the Truth", [[Fingolfin]] reflects about the destiny of the [[Noldor]].
    #In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of Helcaraxë and the prophecy by Mandos about the Noldor's fate; he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
#In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of [[Helcaraxë]] and the [[Prophecy of the North]] about the Noldor's fate; he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
    #"The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the battle in which Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband using his Balrogs and dragons.
#"The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the [[Dagor Bragollach]], in which Morgoth breaks the [[Siege of Angband]] using his Balrogs and dragons.
    #"Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of Angband to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
#"Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of [[Angband]] to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
    #"The Dark Elf" refers to Eöl who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered Maeglin, who would eventually betray Gondolin.
#"The Dark Elf" refers to [[Eöl]] who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered [[Maeglin]], who would eventually betray Gondolin.
    #In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
#In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
    #"The Eldar" is Elvenking Finrod Felagund's farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend Beren from a werewolf.
#"The Eldar" is Elvenking [[Finrod Felagund]]'s farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend [[Beren]] from a [[werewolf]].
    #In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. Nóm means "wise" and was the name given to Finrod by Beren's forefather Bëor.
#In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. ''Nóm'' means "wise" and was the name given to Finrod by Beren's forefather [[Bëor]].
    #In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess Lúthien and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf Carcharoth.
#In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess [[Lúthien]] and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf [[Carcharoth]].
    #"Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
#"Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
    #In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive Húrin who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
#In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive [[Húrin]] who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
    #In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the fifth battle. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
#In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
    #"Final Chapter (Thus ends ...)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the hope for a new day.
#"Final Chapter (Thus ends ...)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the [[Estel (philosophical concept)|hope]] for a new day.
    #"Harvest of Sorrow" is the bonustrack on the remastered version of the album. Túrin mourns the loss of his sister Niënor.
#"[[Harvest of Sorrow]]" is the bonustrack on the remastered version of the album. [[Túrin]] mourns the loss of his sister [[Niënor]].
 
==Sample: "Nightfall"==
<youtube>PrEm8jMC5Q8</youtube>


{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Albums]]
[[Category:Albums]]

Revision as of 11:34, 6 May 2020

Nightfall in Middle-earth cover

Nightfall in Middle-Earth is an album by Blind Guardian that was released in 1998.

The album is a concept album based on the J.R.R. Tolkien book The Silmarillion. Many of the tracks from the album are not complete songs, but are merely narratives to further the story. Blind Guardian owes many of its lyrics to Tolkien's work, but this album is exclusively dedicated to The Silmarillion. The lyrics range from the quest for the Silmarils until the dawn of the Third Age.

"Nightfall in Middle-Earth" was the first album Blind Guardian released in the United States. The result was so positive that Century Media started to release old Blind Guardian hits in the U.S. (records such as "Follow the Blind" and "Battalions of Fear").[source?]

The track "Mirror Mirror" is included in Blind DVD: Imaginations Through The Looking Glass. This DVD was rated by many different music-specialized sites as "a masterpiece".[source?]

Lineup

  • Vocals: Hansi Kürsch
  • Lead Guitar: André Olbrich
  • Rythm Guitar: Marcus Siepen
  • Drums: Thomas "Thomen" Stauch

Guests

  • Bass : Oliver Holzwarth
  • Keyboards : Mathias Weisner
  • Piano : Michael Schuren
  • Flute : Max Zelner
  • Narrations : Norman Eshley, Douglas Fielding

Track listing

  1. War of Wrath 1:50
  2. Into the Storm 4:24
  3. Lammoth 0:28
  4. Nightfall 5:34
  5. The Minstrel 0:32
  6. The Curse of Fëanor 5:41
  7. Captured 0:26
  8. Blood Tears 5:23
  9. Mirror Mirror 5:07
  10. Face the Truth 0:24
  11. Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns) 6:51
  12. Battle of Sudden Flame 0:44
  13. Time Stands Still (at the Iron Hill) 4:53
  14. The Dark Elf 0:23
  15. Thorn 6:18
  16. The Eldar 3:39
  17. Nom the Wise 0:33
  18. When Sorrow Sang 4:25
  19. Out on the Water 0:44
  20. The Steadfast0:21
  21. A Dark Passage 6:01
  22. Final Chapter (Thus Ends...) 0:48
  • Bonus Tracks
  1. Nightfall (Orchestral Version)
  2. A Dark Passage (Orchestral Version)

Thematic references

  1. In "War of Wrath", Sauron advises his master Morgoth to flee the triumphant Valar in the War of Wrath. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
  2. In "Into the Storm", Morgoth and Ungoliant, fleeing from Valinor after having destroyed the Two Trees, struggle for the possession of the Silmarils.
  3. "Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth after being attacked by Ungoliant in Lammoth.
  4. In "Nightfall", Fëanor and his Seven Sons mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth, including the slaying of Finwë, Fëanor's father, and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar's disapproval.
  5. "The Minstrel" is most likely about Maglor, son of Fëanor, who composed the song "Noldolantë".
  6. In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the Kinslaying, in pursuit of Morgoth.
  7. In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive Maedhros, Fëanor's son, and chains him to the Thangorodrim mountains.
  8. In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by Fingon.
  9. "Mirror Mirror" recounts how Turgon, in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of Gondolin, aided by Ulmo ("The Lord of Water").
  10. In "Face the Truth", Fingolfin reflects about the destiny of the Noldor.
  11. In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of Helcaraxë and the Prophecy of the North about the Noldor's fate; he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
  12. "The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the Dagor Bragollach, in which Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband using his Balrogs and dragons.
  13. "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of Angband to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
  14. "The Dark Elf" refers to Eöl who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered Maeglin, who would eventually betray Gondolin.
  15. In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
  16. "The Eldar" is Elvenking Finrod Felagund's farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend Beren from a werewolf.
  17. In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. Nóm means "wise" and was the name given to Finrod by Beren's forefather Bëor.
  18. In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess Lúthien and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf Carcharoth.
  19. "Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
  20. In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive Húrin who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
  21. In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
  22. "Final Chapter (Thus ends ...)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the hope for a new day.
  23. "Harvest of Sorrow" is the bonustrack on the remastered version of the album. Túrin mourns the loss of his sister Niënor.